Pet Vaccine Schedules

Your pets need vaccines, just like you do—but do you know the proper dog and cat vaccine schedule in Phoenix, AZ? If you’re a brand-new pet owner, you might not realize that your furry companion needs vaccines as well as periodic boosters. This will help to protect them from disease and discomfort throughout their lives.

Make sure to talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s vaccines. There are two broad categories—core and non-core vaccines—which your pet may need. Both dogs and cats need a number of core vaccines, but depending on your lifestyle, they may also require additional non-core vaccines. Your veterinarian can educate you about the different options and whether they make sense for your pet. Most can be administered when your pet is as young as six weeks old.

Cat vaccines

• Rabies: This is a single dose core vaccine that can be administered as early as eight weeks of age. You’ll need to add a booster every one to three years.
• Feline distemper: This core vaccine is administered around six weeks of age, then every three to four weeks until your cat is 16 weeks old. It’s boosted one year after the original dose, and then every three years thereafter.
• Feline herpesvirus: Like the feline distemper vaccination, this is a core vaccine administered and boosted on the same schedule.
• Calicivirus: This core vaccine follows the same schedule for distemper and herpesvirus.
• Feline leukemia: This is a non-core vaccine that’s administered in two doses. It’s boosted every year if your cat goes outside.
• Bordetella: This non-core vaccine is administered as early as four weeks, then boosted every year.

Dog vaccines

• Rabies one year: This core vaccine is one dose, which is administered as early as three months. It should be boosted annually.
• Rabies three year: After the second year of rabies boosters, this core vaccine is given every three years.
• Parvovirus: This is a core vaccine given between six and 16 weeks. It has at least three different doses involved. It should be boosted one year after the initial dose, then every three years.
• Distemper: This core vaccine follows the same schedule, dosage and booster schedule as parvovirus.
• Adenovirus type one: This core vaccine also follows the same guidelines as the parvovirus and distemper shots.
• Parainfluenza: This is a non-core vaccine, which can be given at six to eight weeks of age, then every three to four weeks until the dog is 12 to 14 weeks old. Boosters are given one to three years afterwards.
• Bordetella: This non-core vaccine’s timing and dosage depends on the specific vaccine.
• Leptospirosis: This is a two-dose non-core vaccine given around eight weeks, then two to four weeks later. If your dog is in a high-risk area, they’ll need an annual booster.

There are more non-core dog vaccines available. Your vet will be able to tell you whether your dog needs them, and when. Always make sure to follow their recommendations for a happy, healthy pet.

For more information about cat and dog vaccination schedules in Phoenix, AZ, call Christown Animal Hospital today.

Categorised in: Cat Vaccinations, Dog Vaccinations

This post was written by Writer